About this project

$7,797

pledged of $7,500 goal

189

backers

We are Eight Belles Band. In 2012, we released our first record, "Girls Underground", a collection of Americana and alt-country tunes which received some excellent press. In the two years since then, I've written an album's worth of new songs, our musical chemistry has deepened, and we've played with some excellent bassists and drummers who have really sculpted our sound.

Our second record is under way, and it will feature our strongest material yet. As Henry said in our Popdose interview, "The last record definitely had a sonic theme to it...whereas this record is more of a collection of pop songs that are fairly independent of each other." It pays homage to a greater variety of my songwriting influences--Carole King, Laura Nyro, Harry Nilsson, Townes Van Zandt. It's less country, but more importantly, it's a more developed representation of my writing voice and a more personal exploration of recent life experiences.

We are recording at a truly outstanding studio in our beloved downtown Oakland. We are working again with our talented engineer Ross Harris at 25th St. Recording, and the production and instrumentation are more ambitious and adventurous this time around. While we've paid for much of the tracking with money we've earned from shows and full-time jobs, we need help with the final process, especially if we want to press to vinyl.

We need:

5 more days of tracking: $2500

2 days of mixing: $1000

Mastering: $1000

CDs: $1000

Vinyl: $2000

= 7,500

We are aware of the many different ways to create a great record. I've thought carefully about the pros and cons of doing a Kickstarter. We aren't using this money to pay rent, go on a luxurious tour, or spend hours screwing around in the studio experiencing what Led Zeppellin "IV" sounds like through a fancy mixing board. We just want make a beautiful record.

Thank you,

Jessi

Risks and challenges

The challenge is, of course, one of time. I will be spending much of the summer traveling, and our engineer is often on the road. I also work full time and can't take many days off to go into the studio. However, we are on schedule to be finished tracking by July or August and hopefully have the record out by December 2014 or early 2015.

FAQ

That's a good question. There is, of course, a margin of error. Let's call this margin "Subjective Thinking". Now, if we consider that Subjective Thinking could account for a 12%-24% offset, then we find that the control factor ("Objective Reality") gives us a 90% probability of a record that is critically superior by 94%. Even adjusting that down 5% for the Regional Competition Consideration (Regional talent assessment provided by the BAHA [Bay Area Hipsters Alliance]), that's still providing an 87% probability for the record to be 92% percent better than the Average Music Product! Those are some good numbers, folks!

Friends, Jessi and Henry have secured affidavits from all parties involved, assuring that all feelings and situations described on this record are 100% genuine and original. When you pre-purchase this album, you can rest easy knowing that all of our little secrets, indeed the very essence of our souls, are being represented wholeheartedly and unreservedly, with all consideration for accuracy in its every nuance. Dirt dished, highest quality.

The truth is that great records take time. We are just as eager to hear the finished project as you are! We ask that you please be as patient as possible. The talent and personalities involved are very fragile (divas), and rushing the process could potentially compromise the overall quality. That said, your generous donations will certainly lubricate the engines of progress!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

The Man o' War:
Invitation to Private Record Release Party!
Vinyl or CD + we thank you in the liner notes + an invitation to one of two private record release dinner parties in Oakland or Santa Rosa, with a private Eight Belles concert

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

The Seabiscuit:
VINYL + CD + we will thank you in the liner notes of the record + invitation to our record release party + Henry & I (and openers of your or our choice) will perform a house concert at your pad. You can even charge admission (limited to within three hours of Bay Area).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

The Secretariat:
Vinyl, CD, t-shirt, sticker + we will thank you in the liner notes of the record + invitation to the record release party + we'll put you on the guest list to all of our shows for the next year and bring you "backstage".

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

The Black Stallion:
Vinyl, CD, t-shirt, sticker + we will thank you by name in the liner notes + an invitation to record release party + Jessi will go sky-diving with you while Henry videotapes our landing from the ground. She has never done it before, but for you she will do it.